Read More

Patient Instructions

Control drugs for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are drugs you take to control, or prevent, your symptoms of COPD. You must use them every day for the drugs to work.

You and your doctor can make a plan for the control drugs that work for you. This plan will include when you should take them and how much you should take.

You may need to take these drugs for at least a month before you start to feel better. Take them even when you feel okay. Take enough with you when you travel.

Plan ahead. Make sure you do not run out.

Names of anticholinergic inhalers:

• Ipratropium (Atrovent): Use up to 4 times a day.
• Tiotropium (Spiriva): Use 1 puff every day.

Use your anticholinergic inhalers every day, even if you do not have symptoms.

Side effects might include:

• Mild cough
• Dry mouth

These medicines may make glaucoma worse. Ask your doctor about using them if you have glaucoma.

Names of beta-agonist inhalers:

• Salmeterol (Serevent): Use 2 times a day.
• Formoterol (Foradil): Use once a day.

Do NOT use a spacer with beta-agonist inhalers.

These drugs help keep your COPD symptoms away by helping to relax the muscles of your airways. Use your beta-agonist inhaler drugs every day, even if you do not have symptoms. You may use beta-agonists if you also use inhaled steroids or an anticholinergic inhaler.

Names of some inhaled corticosteroids:

• Flunisolide (Aerobid)
• Mometasone (Asmanex)
• Triamcinolone (Azmacort)
• Fluticasone (Flovent)
• Beclomethasone (Qvar)

Budesonide (Pulmicort) is an inhaled corticosteroid that is used in a "nebulizer "instead of an inhaler. A nebulizer is a device that delivers liquid medicine to your airways in a fine mist.

Corticosteroids help keep your airways from swelling up. Use them every day, even if you do not have symptoms. Use corticosteroids with your inhaler and spacer.

Rinse out your mouth with water, gargle, and spit out after you use these drugs.

COPD - control drugs

Anthonisen N. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. In: Goldman L, Auseillo D. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 88.

Wilt TJ, Niewoehner D, MacDonald R, Kane RL. Management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review for a clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147:141.

Updated by: Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP, Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed HealthCare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.